Volunteers keep Friday lunch on the table in Kings Mountain

Friday

Mar 8, 2013 at 12:01 AMMar 8, 2013 at 12:16 PM

When the Friday congregate meal program was dropped at the Patrick Senior Center back in the summer, Janet Beani worried about the handful of elderly women who wouldn't have anything to eat on Fridays.

Jackie Bridges /jbridges@shelbystar.com

KINGS MOUNTAIN -- When the Friday congregate meal program was dropped at the Patrick Senior Center back in the summer, Janet Beani worried about the handful of elderly women who wouldn't have anything to eat on Fridays.

The Congregate Meal Program, operated with Title 3 funds by the Neal Senior Center in Shelby, provides lunch Monday-Thursday. The Friday meal was discontinued because the funds were insufficient to meet the growing need, said Sharon Eaker, Patrick Center administrative assistant.

That first Friday, Beani brought tomatoes from her garden, bread, mayonnaise and Sunny D.

"Everybody chipped in a dollar and I would go to the store and buy what I could," Beani said. "Others started donating chips or drinks."

When she started serving homemade hot meals, the number of people eating lunch started to grow. Currently she and her staff of volunteers prepare between 45 and 60 plates a week. One Friday when a church group came to present a program, they served 103, Beani said.

Now seniors pay $2 for the meal, and the money is administered by the City of Kings Mountain. Beani and Patrick Center Program Director Terrie Lewis buy the groceries needed for each meal. Donations of canned fruit, vegetables, 2-liter drinks, chips, crackers or money are welcome to keep the cost of the meal affordable for the seniors, Lewis said.

"I prayed about this before I did it," Beani said. "I promised God if he would make a way, I would donate my time. The money comes in and the City of Kings Mountain gives me a budget. God is supplying the money and the means, and I do the work."

She has a team of volunteer helpers. Sarah Miller is the assistant manager, and Jean Martin takes care of inventory. June Bridges, Peggy Galaski and Dot Humphries help in the kitchen, and Nancy Gregg and Pearlie Smith help serve the meal to anyone over 90 or others who need help. Barbara McKinney keeps up with the signup sheet and records the payments.

"When they saw what was going on, they asked if they could help," Beani said. "They won't let me wash a dish."

The other women said Janet is a hard worker.

"She makes you feel good about yourself," said Bridges. "She works tirelessly and she loves to feed people. That's the joy of her life -- helping somebody."

Miller said she and Beani are a team.

"We are like sisters and we love each other," Miller said. "We cook together and we work together. I enjoy it; it's one of my callings. I like helping other people."

The most popular Friday menu is meatloaf and mashed potatoes, Beani said. But they also like the chicken noodle soup, lasagna and pinto beans.

"They like to have the things they had growing up," she said. "This is a treat for them, because they usually have microwave meals at home."

The seniors asked her to make homemade banana pudding, not instant. She found a recipe and her pudding was a hit. Another favorite dessert is her homemade coconut cake.

"The cooks are very good," said Christine Moore, as she sat talking with Juanita and Bill Swindell and Eddie Bridges after lunch.

Eddie's wife helps Beani in the kitchen.

"She loves working up here, and Janet is fabulous, Eddie said. "Janet takes prayer requests and prays for people. My wife started helping her and she said, you ought to come and eat lunch."

He did and told the Swindells about the good meals; Juanita is his sister, and they started coming.

"It's good fellowship and excellent food," Juanita said.

At the table next to them, Betty Grant, Vickie Moore and Juanita Jackson were finishing up their meals.

"We don't have to cook and no dishes to wash. It's a good social outlet," Betty said.

"It gets us out of the house," Vickie added.

And Juanita said, "Janet has a good personality; she's a good person."

Want more information?

For more information about the Friday meal program at Patrick Senior Center, 909 E. King St., Kings Mountain, or to make a donation, call Terrie Lewis at 704-734-0447.

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